Author: Carolyn Gibbon, cjgibbon@uclan.ac.uk

Author: Lindsay McPhail, lmcphail@uclan.ac.uk

JISC e-Learning Activity Area: Learning Resources and Activities

Higher Education Academy Subject Centre: Health Sciences and Practice

This case study illustrates...staff satisfaction with e-learning, a positive effect on recruitment, use of resources, an effect on social equality

Lessons Learned

Summary and reflection

The Internet does provide fantastic potential for educational innovation, but fundamental to the attainment of this potential is the employment of learning theory appropriate to the medium together with continued evaluation of all aspects of the program. For an educational course to be effective over a period of time, it is essential that it evolve, responding not only to changes in relevant policy and evidence base, but also to findings from evaluation. Continual evaluation provides feedback that can direct future development of the program and provide insight into the relative strengths and weaknesses of the facilitator. This iterative process of course development is considered to be fundamental in the production of an effective learning package.

'I have found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable course, and feel I have learnt a huge amount, which I hope to utilise within my practice to benefit my patients.' Implementation of the National Service Framework is paramount in the treatment and management of diabetes in England. Education will be a fundamental aspect of the implementation strategy, providing HCPs with the skills necessary to empower patients to manage their diabetes effectively. Employment of the Internet to provide accessible, timely education together with ongoing support via an associated network could help in achieving this goal. Having synchronous and asynchronous discussions of case study work and critical reflection exercises has proved very useful for student learning, knowledge transfer and student/tutor communication.

Further training and resources including staff allocated time may be needed for the future continued delivery, especially in addressing issues such as wider access university strategies.

A final student comment 'I have been at this computer most of the day, I am loving the course but there is so little time'.